Valve mechanism



W. PRELLWITZ VALVE MECHANISM Nov. 14, 1933.

Filed. March 19, 1930 J k 17) E JNVENQR.

mum/711 116111445 BY @244 HAS A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 14, 1933 VALVE rmonmsm William Prellwitz, Easton, Pa., assignorto Ingersoll-Rand Company, Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey 7' Application March 19, 1930. Serial No. 437,052

' 9 Claims. (01. 277-46) This invention relates to valve mechanisms, but more particularly to valve mechanisms for pumps, blowing engines, compressors, and the like for either controlling the admission of air Landgasesinto the compressor or the exhaust of the compressed fluid from the compressor, depending upon whether the valve mechanism is intended to serve as an inlet valve or as a discharge valve. a lol-"iMore particularly, the invention relates to valve. mechanisms of the multi-plate type in which each of a series of concentrically arranged ports is individually controlled by a separate valveplate. The valve plates are suitably guided by 1 the stop-plate andmay be provided with individual spring-means for pressing them to the valve seat. i

I As now constructed, valve mechanismsof the multi-plate type are usually provided withports 0f substantially equal width, the valve plates which control them areof equal width and the stop element which controls the lift of the] valve plates is so arranged that the valve plates lift or movefrom the valve seat-in substantially an zs-iequal degree. Obviously,;when thus constructed the lift of-the valve plates is determined by that which the weaker of a series of plates is capable of withstanding. F

In the case of concentrically arranged valve plates the weaker member is, of course, the outermost valve plate which, due to its greater area, weight and consequent flexibility,- is less capable of withstanding repeated forceful impact against thei'stop elements than are the innermost or valve plates of smaller diameter.

It will be at once apparent to those skilledin the art that the lift area, that is, that space or areaj betweenthe valve plates, whenlifted, and

the valveseat also determines the area of the pla 49 'ports through which the fluid is intended to pass to or from the machine to which the valve mechanism may-be applied, depending upon whether the. valve is being used as an inlet or an exhaust valve. There would obviously be no advantage in providing the valve mechanism with ports capable of accommodating a greater. flow offiuid than may be accommodated by the lift area-of-the valve plates. Due to these limitations, whenever 50 a valve mechanism is required for machines of large output volume it becomes necessary to employ valves of extremely large diameter; These may be applied only to machines operating at comparatively slow piston speed. When'otherwise operated serious and usually costly delaysresult becauS- jury to orbreakage of the valve plates.

One serious drawback, apart from that stated, I

to the use of valve mechanisms of large diameter.

is that asthe' diameter of the valve mechanisms'is 30 increased only a small number of separate mechanisms may be arranged in the space usually avail-. able for their accommodation, as for instance,

aroundthe end of a cylinder and, ,asin other cases, in the head or heads forming "closures for-thecs cylinders. It is an object of the present invention to obviate the aforesaid limitations and therefore to enable each of a series of valve plates of -a unitary structure to be operated at lifts at which 1 they may be safely operated and to assure total port and lift areas commensurate with the requirements of'the machine towhichthe valve mechanism may be applied without resorting to the use of valvemechanisms all dimensions. I l 4 g I Other objects will be in part obvious: and-in part pointed out hereinafter. a In the accompanying drawing and in which similar reference characters refer tosimilar parts,

I Figure 1 is a'plan view, partly broken away, of

*a valve -mechanism constructed in accordance with the practice of the invention, and

I Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken through Figure 1 on the line 2--2 looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows. I Referring more particularly to the drawing, a. valve mechanism constructed in accordance with. the practice of the invention and designated 9 generally by A. is shown, for the purpose of illustration, as a discharge valve, and comprises a valve seat B having a shoulder C which is adaptedto engage a corresponding shoulder or wall of a machine, such as a compressor, to which the 5 valve mechanism A may be applied. The valve seat ,3 is provided with a series of annular. ports, three such being shown V in the present, instance, and designated as D, Eand F.

The ports are preferably arranged concentrically 1 jwith respect to each other and the walls thereof} may taper gradually from the inlet 'ends G in the direction of their outlet ends H. Although, as

shown; restricted throat portions J may be formed at points near the outlet ends of the ports." 1 '1 5 The outlet openings of the ports D, E and F are controlled by valve plates K, L and Orrespectively. The valves seat against seating 'sur-' faces A on' the end'of the valve 'seat'A' and which seating surfaces lie in a common transverseplane.

of impractical over- 75 2 lit? The valve-plates are preferably in the form of flat ring-like plates and are held in substantially the correct operative position by a stop plate P which is superimposed upon the valve seat B and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. One

1 convenient means of accomplishing this is shown in the formof a bolt-Q-vvhich extends through. an aperture R in the stop'pl'ate and'isthreaded with one end into the valve seat B. On the opposite end of the bolt is'threaded a nut S which serves to clamp the stop plate P securely to the valve:

as to form therebetween annular portsX through which the fluid issuing from the ports D,- E and F may flow to a receiving chamber. The ports X areaof ceurse=,:.stagg'ered'with respect to the-ports D, E and F and the fluid flowing from therports' D, E andiFuiddefiectedby theplateszK', Li and O" andzby theribs W into-'the'ports X;

s The valve. plates may; be conveniently pressed to the'zseat-B: by means of .coil springs Y- which-- are-disposedein sockets Z in the stopplate- P and seat against the valve plates; *Anysuitable num-' ber of spri-ngsY may be employed for this purpose depending upon; the individualcharacteristics of the valve plates.

Constructedin accordance with the practice of the --inventi'on-;-=thegroovesT; U and: V are of difierent depth so that the respective valve plates operating thereinewill' be capabl'eof lifting-or opening in difierent degrees with re'spectto-eacn otherz aWhe'rep as in the: present instance; 'the ports-"D, Hand-Fare of different widths, thus necessitating valve. plates: of I diff erent widths, the

"grooves- 12: 3 andV are, ofxcourseyalso' of suitable 1 widths to accommodate the respective valve plates for ,which: they:- are intended-m Aswill be observed, the ports-D, E andF, as

wellas thegrooves-{IE U and-V, decrease :progressively in" width in the direction 0f the outermost the bottom Oftheg'roove -T, and WhiCH'gIOOVB nonstitute's a-seating surface P for the :valveplate K, lies nearer thevalve plate Kthan do the seating surfaces P of the grooves U'and-V' With -re,-- speet to theivalve plates Irand: 0, respectively? DueJtmthis arrangementall the valve plates may safe limits vvithouta resulting decrease in the overalli'pbririand liftl areas-"of the valve .:mecha- '-L nism. Any decreaseof the lift area "of the outer the'strains and jars incidentto' fast operation at Fromtheforegoingfit will be apparent that a valve mechamsm constructed'm the mannerde entdegrees, and spring means to pressthe. valve- -plates to the valve seat;

scribed, is? capable of being operated at a. greatly incr'eased .speedoverthat of the usual type of multiplate valve mechanism and, due to the gradation of the lifthareasin accordance with the differences in the-diameters of the-valve plates;Llarge total-port andi lift areas may be obtained without resorting to: the use 0f valve meclrcreasing distances from; the valve plates in th 'press the; valve plates to the valve seat.

"having, a plurality of ports,-a plurality ofseatingg -be operated at high-:speeds' since the lift of the outermost valve plate-'imay be maintained within" ing seating surfaces to 'formstops-for the val anisms of large overall dimensions, as has been customary heretofore.

I claim: 7

1. A valve mechanism comprising a valve seat having, a plurality of concentrically arranged an nular ports, a plurality of separate valve plates -to control the ports, a stop plate having seating surfacesior the valve plates and said -seating surfaces being spaced at progressively decreasing distances from the valve plates in the direction of the outermost valve plate to cause the valve plates to operate at difierent lifts, and

spring means to press'the valve plates to the valve seat. e

I 2. Avalve mechanism comprising a valve seat having aiplurality of;concentrical1y arranged annular ports decreasing successively in width in the direction ofthe-oute'rmost port, valve plates to control the ports, a stop plate having a plurality of annular seating surfaces for the valve plates and said seating surf acesnabeing :spaced ati progressively: decreasing distances: from' thei l' valve plates in. the 1 direction-of thei outermos valve plate'to cause the valve plates to operat at different liftsgand springmeans to press "thelrmflg-i. valve plates to the valve seat; '1 1 f 3. A valve mechanism comprising :a' valve sea having a plurality of concentrically:arrangedmna nular ports decreasing successively .inwidthdn the direction of the outermost .port'; valve rplate' ea..-

in the form of separate rings to: control the ports, a stop plate having;a-,pluralityjof annular seating, surfaces for the valve platesnndsaidtseat ing surfaces being spaced at progressively de- 1 direction of theoutermost valve plate to caus 'the valve plates to operate at different lifts, and' spring means to press-the valve plates to the valveseat. i a r is 4., A- valveqmechanism comprising a-valve' seat Y having a plurality ofconeentricallyfarranged an--o:--'

nular ports decreasing successively -=in.width:1in the direction ofv the outermost port and lying :in'= m the same transverse plane, :valveplates inthe s form of rings to control: the portsyja stop plate-rport. Likewise, the grooves T, U and V decrease progressivelyin'depthzwith reSpecttoeach other in theudirectionof the-outermostrgrooyeso that 5. A- valvemechanism comprising ;a =valvew-sea e surfaces on the valve seat-and lying in a com-: 1305 3 mom-transverse plane, valve plates" cooperating -"l with the seatingsurfaces tolcontrol the ports a', stop plate having relatively steppedsurfacesto \form stops for the valve-plates, and spring means to press the valve plates to the valve seat. 135, 55...

, 6. A valve mechanism comprisinga valve seatf having a p a y f COIlCGl'ltlically arranged ,portsof diiferentwidths, valve plates in the form of rings to control. the ports, a stopplatejhav -f' plates, said seating surfaces-lying in different planes to permit the valve plates to lift in differ '7. A valve mechanism comprising-a valve -seatasg j-having a plurality of concentrically arranged ports decreasing successively in width inthe direction of the outermost port, valve"plates to control the-ports, a stop plate--having-relatively.---

isteppedyseating, surfaces for the valve platesito l-m permit of different degrees of lift of the valve plates, and spring means to press the valve plates to the'valve seats. I

8. A valve mechanism comprising a valve seat having a plurality of concentrically arranged ports decreasing successively in widthin the di- 9. A valve mechanism comprising a valveseat having inner and outer annular ports, said ing ner port being of greater width than the outer port, inner and outer valve plates in the form ofrings torcontrol the ports, a stop plate having inner and outer seating surfaces for the valve plates, said inner seating surface being spaced' a greaterdistance from the valve seat than the I outer seating surface to permit of a greater de-' gree of lift of the inner valve plate than the outer valve plate, and spring means for pressing the valve plates to the valve seat.

WILLIAM PRELLWITZ. 

